Barr throws a ball in the GOP "spying" curve in the Senate

Attorney General William BarrWilliam Pelham, Barr's Department of Judicial Justice, states that the FDA does not have jurisdiction to regulate drugs during executions. The attorney appointed by Barr is about to enter the Washington storm. The Hill & # 39; s 12:30 Report: Trump Minimizes Fallout from the Trade War MOREThe decision by an American lawyer to probe the origins of the investigation into Russia lays the groundwork for an investigation plan on Capitol Hill.

Barr has appointed a US attorney in Connecticut to examine the origins of the FBI investigation into the Trump campaign, a move long sought by President TrumpDonald John TrumpDo not tell Marianne Williamson that she can not win The Memo: 2020 Dems line up for the Maddow Primary The rise of the border to the Interior Interior puts more officers in an unknown role MORE and his conservative allies. This decision comes as a trio of senior Republican Senate representatives are planning their own investigations into the "spying" of the Trump campaign during the 2016 election and on the FBI's management of the Email inquiry from Clinton.

GOP Senators insisted that they supported Barr's decision, although they warned that this could hamper their own plans in Congress, where prior inquiries had already been initiated before committees. that they were trying to access the same witnesses and that documents had been swept by a judge. Department inquiry.

President of the Judiciary Committee of the Senate Lindsey GrahamLindsey Olin Graham: A Barr named by Barr to enter the Washington Storm at Hillicon Valley: Resolving WhatsApp-related problems after a spyware attack | Pompeo warns Russia against interference | Florida government confirms election piracy | Federal Labor Council lawyer calls Uber drivers | Graham looks into security 5G Trump Jr. reaches agreement to testify with Senate information PLUS (RS.C.) stopped saying that he would terminate his investigation plans when he was questioned about the impact of John Dunham's appointment on his panel, but said said lawmakers "must be careful" and "ensure that we do not interfere his way."

"I do not want to hinder his ability. I do not want to jeopardize a person under investigation, "Graham told The Hill. "I want to make sure that this surveillance does not bother the prosecutor. … We will have to be careful and find our way forward. "

Sen. Ron JohnsonRonald (Ron) Harold JohnsonThe Group of Bipartite Senators Introduces a Bill to Strengthen the Cybersecurity of Electoral Systems Trump Jr.'s allegation highlights a discrepancy between GOPs and Russians The Hill & # 39; s Morning Report – Lawmakers diverge on Mueller's findings: "case closed" or "cover-up" MORE (R-Wis.), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs, said he was in favor of Barr's decision but said he was concerned that a departmental investigation of Justice could hinder their ability to force people to respond to British government investigations on Capitol Hill. .

"I hope that does not prevent it. I support the fact that the Attorney General examines all potential problems, potential crimes, "he said. "But I just want to make sure that it does not hinder congressional investigations because our goal is to … public policy and public information."

Asked about his earlier concerns that a criminal investigation would have a negative impact on congressional investigations, he added, "That's the case. This is absolutely the case. This prevents us from getting access … because they will say that we can not release it because it will affect our criminal investigation. "

The US Attorney's Office in Connecticut declined to comment on Dunham's appointment as Investigative Officer of the Department of Justice, which was first reported by the New York Times.

During an appearance before the Senate Credits Committee last month, Mr. Barr indicated that he was concerned about the "spying" of the Trump campaign during the election of 2016 and that the Department of Justice would examine the issue.

"I'm not saying that inappropriate monitoring has taken place. I say that I am worried about this and that I am looking into it, that's all, "he said on April 10.

When he appeared before the Judiciary Committee earlier this month, he later asked someone to look into the matter and told the senators, "Yes, there are people from the Ministry of the Ministry." 39, help in order to review the activities of last summer. 2016. "

Republicans have long called for investigations into the origins of the FBI's investigation of electoral interference and the Trump campaign, which the president has repeatedly referred to as "witch hunt".

Graham, Johnson and Sen. Chuck GrassleyCharles (Chuck) Ernest GrassleyTrump Jr. reaches an agreement to testify with Senate money information: GOP people's anger grows up in the face of Trump's trade war | Trump promises help for "Patriot Farmers & # 39; | Markets rebound | Death of CBO Founding Director Alice Rivlin | The Senate will vote on a disaster assistance bill next week Grassley: The United States and Canada are about to reach an agreement to raise tariffs on steel and steel. aluminum PLUS (R-Iowa), the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and a member of the Judiciary Commission, have also joined forces to "investigate investigators", now that the special advocate Robert MuellerRobert (Bob) Swan MuellerSasse: US should applaud Mueller's choice to lead the investigation over Russia MOREThe probe is complete.

Earlier, Grassley had said that trying to probe the origins of the investigation conducted by Russia during the previous Congress would have given rise to charges of attempted interference in Mueller's investigation. But he said Tuesday that there was room for congressional and justice ministry investigations, calling Barr's decision "very, very good news".

"Of course, we will," he said, asking if senators would continue the investigation as part of the investigation of the Department of Justice. "He's going to investigate and if he finds something, he can sue. We are investigating, we can not continue. "

Durham is not the only person to investigate the election of 2016. Republicans are also closely awaiting the results of the investigation by the Inspector General of the Department of Justice, Michael Horowitz , to determine whether the FBI followed the protocols of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act process, which should relate to Carter Page 's arrest warrant application.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellThe Senate will vote on a disaster assistance bill next week. Trump Jr. reaches agreement to testify with Senate Intelligence Services: GOP Anxiety Grows over Trump's Trade War | Trump promises help for "Patriot Farmers & # 39; | Markets rebound | Death of CBO Founding Director Alice Rivlin | Senate to vote on disaster assistance bill next week (R-Ky.) Took note of Horowitz's investigation during a recent interview with Martha MacCallum of Fox News, adding that "it indicates that there are suspicions around the opening of the investigation, Senator Graham might well decide to take a look at this. "

Graham told The Hill, prior to the reports on Dunham's appointment, that the Inspector General would appear before the Judicial Committee on his findings, which he said should be completed by the end of the month.

"I'm going to let him do his job first because it's kind of the roadmap," said Graham about Horowitz's role. "That's why I did not want to do anything to bother him."

This is not the first time congressional committees have to compete with an investigation by the Department of Justice.

The FBI, then headed by the director James ComeyJames Brien ComeyBarr throws a ball in the bend at the GOP's Senate "Spying Investigation" President Trump calls comments from spy Wray at Congress "ridiculous" Rosenstein: Comey became "a partisan pundit" CONTINUED, investigated the interference in the elections and the Trump campaign while the Intelligence Committee was investigating the same problem and the Judicial Committee had opened the door for an investigation. Congressional investigations often cede jurisdiction to simultaneous federal investigations – a coordination process called "deconfliction."

Johnson said Tuesday that while the Justice Department would likely focus on "prosecutionable crimes," Congressional oversight had "different purposes" and could include "wrongdoing that does not match crimes committed by the prosecution ", leaks or undue influence on a campaign. could be privileged areas for congressional oversight.

"We just did that backwards. We should have started with Congressional investigations without hindering criminal prosecution. Once we have published our reports, we will be able to refer them to the criminal justice system, "Johnson said of the initial report on Russian electoral interference.

When asked if they were going to do it "in the back," he added, "Yes, but we have been in this situation for two years now and the Attorney General is going to have to hit the nail on the head. I hope that the special council will have examined all the issues. "

Mr. Graham appeared on Tuesday to briefly outline areas in which his attention might differ from that of the Department of Justice, particularly with respect to the need to legislate following the 2016 election.

But he added that when "you have surveillance and lawsuits at the same time, it could be a very dangerous combination".